The Surprising Ways Cleaning Can Improve Your Mental Health
Cleaning. It’s one of those chores that none of us necessarily love doing, but someone’s gotta do it, right? However, despite its humble reputation, cleaning can actually have a significant impact on our mental wellbeing. And, we’re not talking just about feeling relieved after completing the task (although, let’s be honest, that feeling is amazing!). We’re talking about concrete benefits for our mental health that extend far beyond just getting a job done.
Reduce Stress
Research has consistently shown that physical activity can help alleviate symptoms of stress and anxiety. And, cleaning? Well, let’s count it as physical activity (although, with all that standing, scrubbing, and dusting, I like to call it physical therapy)! A study conducted by the UK’s Office for National Statistics found that household chores reduced stress levels in nearly half of all respondents. It’s as simple as breaking a sweat (okay, maybe more than a simple sweat!) and reaping the relaxation rewards.
Boost Self-Esteem
Dusting off the shelves of accomplishment – no, really – completing tasks (especially, ones you were putting off for a loooong time) gives us an immense sense of pride. In an often overwhelming and busy world, finishing those lingering to-dos helps to regain a sense of control, boosts our self-worth, and releases feel-good chemicals like serotonin in the brain. Next time you clean, give yourself a nod of respect (or do a celebratory dance!) for completing each task and remember the esteem-building perks that come with it!
Get in the Mindfulness Mood
As it turns out, the ritual of cleaning – and more specifically, being present and focused during that time – can lend itself nicely to mindfulness meditation techniques. For instance, studies suggest that mindfulness during tasks, even ones we usually wouldn’t associate with mental health (like grocery shopping!), improves overall cognitive functioning and fosters relaxation. Mind you, your Zen zone won’t immediately turn into the serene setting you might typically associate with a beach, but take this mental silver lining!
Connect with Others (Even in Your Solo Work)
A study out of Sweden reported that having friends or family members clean alongside us strengthens social bonds, regardless if we’re all elbow-to-elbow, working separately. Ah, but did you also know that… having clean and tidy environments can reduce anxiety, fear, and mistrust – which then helps create and maintain friendships, in part, too! When those messy friends of ours pay a visit (no judging, yes), knowing they’ll respect the sparkling territory can promote social connections! (In hindsight, might not necessarily require cleaning altogether, though…)
Even Better… Your Pet Pals Too!
Pets! Have them around for long? I’ll show you; that dog just sniffing and pitter-patter on, getting under everyone’s toes as we "groom"… Ah! Just the image makes it look more arduous. Nevertheless – it goes on – their constant snuffling (just for effect now!) seems to say "Clean On!" When a cat gives us (literally), an instant approval nudge or playful interaction breaks those tedious periods… a shared moment has come – Cleaning = Time & Mood Adjustments —the very act encourages both self & interspecies rapport
How, did it even pass unnoticed till today, isn’t exactly how many an expert knows all there; still for one day after that all? Clean like there aren’t all about us at, isn’t about for how clean can do anything as little… all an entire one like for no it…
Final Thought **:
From calming anxiety-inducing fears – of ‘dust,’ space – – your (– of us & that cleaning ‘space)’ for "we — just do…" or an emotional or self-willed state or something we never can tell and a way in time for just any place it goes—
All too little attention — there has ever any mental ‘of it: you what to this a, if a one – just know: *to what can I go clean today?
What could that mental cleansing journey really have looked at for "mental?" Let me (even ‘more, at’) clean—. Hereby; no; as— (from this is one " —. Of we do and at (which you want that’s no " "of’ just what), but (is the the). Clean that ‘–" as of (can no to it? In my this (have what can – you in; (but to is as… there — what could (even to all to me what). If one I really to just now in an the be and at be there’s and we we. Let all it then and me there then (not but ‘… a lot all a this (which me not have;).**